4 Framing & Composition Techniques for Beginners | Photography & Video Training

Summary

In this video, Steve from Learn Online Video shares four essential framing and composition techniques to enhance storytelling through photos and videos. He covers the Rule of Thirds, leading lines, symmetry, and framing within the frame, demonstrating how each technique can be applied to a lighthouse scene. Emphasizing that these techniques are free to use and can significantly improve the aesthetic appeal of any shot, Steve encourages viewers to practice these methods to elevate their visual storytelling.

Takeaways

• 📸 **Rule of Thirds**: Enhance the aesthetic appeal and balance of a shot by placing subjects along the grid lines or at their intersections.
• 🌄 **Horizon Placement**: Avoid centering horizons; instead, place them along the top or bottom grid line to emphasize the sky or landscape.
• 🛤️ **Leading Lines**: Use environmental elements to create visual pathways that guide the viewer's eye towards the focal point.
• 🎨 **Symmetry**: Frame shots with balance, often centering the subject, to create a harmonious and impactful composition.
• 🏞️ **Framing within the Frame**: Utilize natural or man-made elements to frame the main subject, adding depth and interest to the image.
• 🆓 **Free Technique**: Framing and composition are cost-free techniques that anyone can master to improve their photography and videography.
• 👨‍🏫 **Educational Resource**: The video serves as an introductory guide to framing and composition, suitable for beginners.
• 🔗 **Further Learning**: Links to more detailed videos on specific techniques like the rule of thirds and leading lines are provided for deeper understanding.
• 🎥 **Practical Application**: Techniques are demonstrated using a lighthouse as an example, showing their practical application in various scenarios.
• 👍 **Engagement Encouraged**: Viewers are prompted to engage with the content by liking the video and seeking more tutorials for continued learning.

Q & A

What are the four framing and composition techniques discussed in the video?

The four framing and composition techniques discussed are the rule of thirds, leading lines, symmetry, and framing within your frame.

How does enabling the grids on your camera help with framing?

Enabling the grids on your camera helps by providing a visual guide to place subjects or focal points on the intersecting points of the grid, creating a more aesthetically pleasing and balanced shot.

Why should you not place the horizon in the middle of the frame when shooting?

Placing the horizon in the middle of the frame can be visually uninteresting. Instead, it's recommended to put it on either the top or bottom horizontal line to feature the sky or landscape and create a more pleasing shot.

What is the purpose of using the rule of thirds in interview situations?

In interview situations, the rule of thirds is used to give the subject some 'looking room' by placing them to the left or right of the frame, which makes the composition feel more natural and balanced.

How do leading lines help in creating visual interest in a shot?

Leading lines use elements within the environment to create a visual pathway to the subject or focal point, drawing the viewer's eye and adding depth to the image.

What is the concept behind the symmetry technique in framing?

The symmetry technique involves framing the shot so that it is balanced with the subject centered, creating a visually pleasing and harmonious composition.

Can you provide an example of a filmmaker known for using symmetry in their work?

Director Wes Anderson is known for his use of symmetry, creating a uniquely stylized and visually appealing aesthetic in his films.

What does 'framing within your frame' mean and how can it enhance a photo or video?

Framing within your frame means using elements in the environment to frame the focal point, adding a layer of depth and interest to the composition. It's a more stylized approach that can make photos and videos stand out when executed well.

How can the techniques discussed in the video be applied to portrait photography?

These techniques can be applied to portrait photography by using leading lines to draw attention to the subject, placing the subject according to the rule of thirds, ensuring symmetry for a balanced look, and finding natural frames within the environment.

What is the main benefit of using framing and composition techniques in photography and videography?

The main benefit is that they improve the visual appeal and storytelling of photos and videos without the need for additional equipment or software, making them accessible and cost-effective techniques.

Are there any additional resources mentioned in the video for learning more about the rule of thirds and leading lines?

Yes, the video mentions that there are additional videos dedicated to the rule of thirds and leading lines, which will be linked in the video description.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Mastering Framing and Composition

The video script introduces four essential framing and composition techniques to enhance storytelling through photography and videography. The presenter, Steve, emphasizes that these techniques are cost-free and require only knowledge. The techniques include the rule of thirds, leading lines, symmetry, and framing within the frame. The script uses the example of photographing a lighthouse to illustrate how these techniques can be applied. The rule of thirds is explained with the suggestion to enable grids on the camera and place subjects along these lines for a balanced and context-rich shot. The presenter also advises on positioning horizons to create visually pleasing shots. The video promises to provide a comprehensive understanding of these techniques, suitable for beginners in framing and composition.

05:02

🎥 Applying Techniques for Better Visuals

In the second paragraph, the script concludes by summarizing the four framing and composition techniques discussed in the video. The presenter invites viewers to apply these techniques to improve their photography and videography skills. The video ends with a call to action, encouraging viewers to like the video and explore more content for further learning. The script also mentions that additional resources, such as a video on the rule of thirds and another on leading lines, are available for those interested in deepening their understanding of these concepts. The presenter, Steve, thanks the viewers for watching and looks forward to their engagement in future videos.

Keywords

💡Framing

Framing refers to the way a subject is composed within a photograph or video frame. It's a critical aspect of visual storytelling, as it influences the viewer's focus and the overall aesthetic of the image. In the video, framing is discussed in the context of making photos and videos more interesting and impactful. The script mentions various techniques such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, and symmetry, all aimed at improving the composition and thus the storytelling power of the visuals.

💡Composition

Composition is the arrangement of visual elements within a frame to create a coherent and aesthetically pleasing image. It's a fundamental concept in photography and videography that helps to guide the viewer's eye and convey a message. The video emphasizes the importance of composition by introducing techniques that can be applied without additional equipment, highlighting that good composition is about knowledge and creativity rather than expensive gear.

💡Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a fundamental principle in photography and video composition where an image is divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines. The idea is to align the subject along these lines or at their intersections to create a more balanced and interesting image. In the script, the rule of thirds is used as an example of how to position the lighthouse in the frame to make the shot more engaging.

💡Leading Lines

Leading lines are a compositional technique where lines in the image guide the viewer's eye towards the subject or focal point. They can be natural or man-made and can be straight or curved. In the video, the presenter uses a pathway as a leading line to draw attention to the lighthouse, illustrating how this technique can enhance the visual narrative and make the subject stand out.

💡Symmetry

Symmetry in photography and videography refers to the balance of elements on either side of a central axis, creating a mirror image effect. It's often used to convey a sense of harmony and stability. The script mentions using symmetry to center the lighthouse between flagpoles, which not only balances the shot but also emphasizes the subject by placing it at the focal point of the image.

💡Framing within Your Frame

Framing within your frame is a technique where elements in the environment are used to create a 'frame' around the subject, adding depth and context to the image. This technique can make the subject stand out by providing a natural border or context. The video suggests using this technique to add a layer of visual interest and to make the composition more dynamic.

💡Visual Storytelling

Visual storytelling is the art of using images to convey a narrative or message. It's about capturing and arranging elements in a way that tells a story. The video is centered around the idea of using framing and composition techniques to enhance visual storytelling, making photos and videos more compelling by guiding the viewer's attention and providing context.

💡Aesthetically Pleasing

An aesthetically pleasing image is one that is visually appealing and harmonious. It often follows certain design principles, such as balance, contrast, and unity. The video script discusses how applying composition techniques like the rule of thirds can make a shot more aesthetically pleasing by creating a sense of balance and harmony within the frame.

💡Horizons

In the context of the video, horizons refer to the line where the sky meets the land or sea in a photograph or video. Proper placement of the horizon is crucial for creating a balanced and visually appealing image. The script advises against placing the horizon in the middle of the frame but rather on one of the horizontal lines of the grid, which can emphasize either the sky or the landscape.

💡Looking Room

Looking room is the space provided in front of a subject's face in a photo or video, which gives the impression that the subject has somewhere to look or move. It's particularly important in interview situations where it can make the subject feel more natural and less confined. The video mentions the rule of thirds in relation to providing looking room for interview subjects.

💡Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson is a renowned filmmaker known for his distinctive visual style, which often includes symmetrical compositions and a strong use of color and framing. The video script references Anderson as an example of a master of symmetry in filmmaking, suggesting that viewers can learn from his work to apply symmetrical compositions in their own projects.

Highlights

Introduction to framing and composition techniques for improving photos and videos.

Framing and composition are free techniques to enhance visual storytelling.

The rule of thirds is a fundamental technique for creating aesthetically pleasing shots.

Enabling camera grids helps in applying the rule of thirds effectively.

Placing subjects on grid intersections draws the viewer's eye and balances the shot.

The rule of thirds is especially useful for interview situations, providing 'looking room' for subjects.

Leading lines technique uses environmental elements to guide the viewer's eye to the focal point.

Leading lines can be straight or curved, and are effective in portrait shots as well.

Symmetry in framing creates a balanced and centered composition.

Wes Anderson's films are excellent examples of masterful use of symmetry.

Framing within the frame uses environmental elements to frame the focal point for a stylized look.

Framing techniques are crucial for telling better stories through photos and videos.

The video provides practical examples of how to apply each framing technique.

The rule of thirds video link is provided for further learning.

Leading lines video link is also provided for additional insights.

Encouragement for viewers to apply these techniques to improve their own visual storytelling.

Call to action for viewers to engage with the content by liking and subscribing.

Transcripts

so how do you frame your shot so that it

looks interesting how do you take better

photos to tell better stories well in

this video i'm going to show you four

framing and composition techniques that

will instantly help you improve

it's coming up

[Music]

hey everyone steve here from learn

online video helping you master the art

of online video production and today

we're talking framing and composition

and look if you're new to framing and

composition and you aren't using any of

these techniques yet then by the end of

this video you're going to have all the

knowledge that you need to start taking

better photos and shooting better videos

and the best part about framing and

composition is that it's completely free

normally when we talk about improving

our videos or our photos it involves

spending money get a better camera get

this piece of software get this camera

accessory with framing and composition

it's completely free you just need the

knowledge so today we're going to cover

four techniques that anyone can do the

rule of thirds leading lines symmetry

and framing within your frame so look

let's simplify all of this okay let's

bring this down to basic so that you

have a really good understanding of when

why and where you might use some of

these techniques this is framing and

composition 101 now let's pretend for a

second you were given a brief and your

brief was to capture an opening shot of

this lighthouse

how would you capture it well let's run

through each of these four framing

techniques and apply them to this

lighthouse to see what difference it

makes okay so let's talk the rule of

thirds now the first thing that you

should do is enable the grids on your

camera they look a little something

like this now you may have seen these

grids on your camera before and switched

them off because you thought that they

were distracting but if you're new to

framing a composition i encourage you to

keep these switched on now the grid is

made up of two vertical lines and two

horizontal lines all spaced evenly apart

now when we place our subjects or focal

points on these lines particularly where

they meet a much more aesthetically

pleasing shot is created and our eyes

are drawn to these focal points it also

helps balance a shot and gives it more

context so let's place our lighthouse to

the right of our frame and place it

directly on the intersecting points of

this grid this then leaves space to the

left of our frame where we can fill it

with something to help us tell a better

story in this case we have the sea some

grass and this helps give the audience a

better understanding of where the

lighthouse is located

now when shooting horizons don't put

your horizon in the middle of the frame

try and put it on either the top or the

bottom horizontal line this allows you

to make a feature of either the sky or

the landscape and makes for a much more

pleasing shot now i've made a whole

video on the rule of thirds i will link

it in the cards and put it in the

description of this video be sure to

check that out now the rule of thirds

technique is commonly used in interview

situations you may have noticed this

when someone's being interviewed the

idea being that you give your subject

some looking room so either put them to

the left or to the right of frame okay

the next technique is leading lines and

the idea here is really simple okay use

elements within your environment to

create a visual pathway to your subject

or focal point so take this shot of the

lighthouse here for example i've used

this pathway to help draw the eye to my

focal point these don't need to be

straight lines they can be curved lines

regardless of your location look for

elements within your environment that

will help draw the eye to your focal

point i've also made an entire video on

leading lines i will put that in the

description below here are some other

shots i took of the lighthouse using the

leading lines technique this technique

also works great for portrait shots just

frame your subject so that lines within

your environment help lead the eye

okay let's talk symmetry now this

technique is fairly self-explanatory

we're going to frame our shot so that

it's nice and balanced with our subject

in the middle of the frame as you can

see here the lighthouse is nicely

centered with the flagpoles either side

another example of this would be a

documentary style film where someone is

talking directly to the camera if your

subject is talking to camera frame them

in the center of the shot and notice

here we're also using some leading lines

for an absolute master class in symmetry

watch anything by director wes anderson

his films are full of beautiful symmetry

and really make him stand out as a

uniquely stylized filmmaker

okay framing within your frame what does

this mean well again look let's use this

lighthouse as an example we're using

elements within our environment to frame

our focal point a slightly more stylized

approach this one a time and a place for

it and also it's a little harder to pull

off because it requires having something

within your environment that you're able

to frame your focal point with but when

used correctly it can really help your

photos and videos stand out so there you

have it those were four framing and

composition techniques to help you start

shooting better videos and taking better

photos i hope you found this video

useful if you did let me know by hitting

the old thumbs up button if you'd like

to watch more content learn some more

watch some more tutorials you can do

that by clicking over there but that's

it from me thanks for watching and i

will see you in the next video

[Music]